Kerry Packer Howzat?

Anyone watched this dramatisation of the WSC. Personally thought it was really good and enjoyed the different actors portraying the players. The Don Bradman references were really funny as well. Shame they didn't have Imran though.

I think by that time Bradman was officially no longer part of the Board, but still held a shed load of clout.

The weird thing about his attitude to WSC was that when he played he was all for cricketers getting a fairer go, money-wise. He nearly went to play for Accrington, and he was prepared to sit out the 32-33 series to continue writing for the Sydney Sun if the then Board maintained its stnace he was illegible to play if writing, because he wasn't a "professional journalist". Frank Packer stepped in and released him from his agreement.

Massive double standards on his part, really.

WWCC - Loyaulte Mi Lie"People make me happy.. not places.. people""When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." - Samuel Johnson

"Hope is the fuel of progress and fear is the prison in which you put yourself" - Tony Benn

Something I find surprising is how few people attended the initial matches. I'd have thought with Lillee, Chappells, Marsh and the WIs etc all playing, in conjunction with the controversy around it, that people would have turned up by the thousands to see it kick off.

Might reveal how conservative most Australians really are, in spite of the fact they claim they are laconic and anti-establishment etc.

It was largely seen as nothing more than a cash grab by a lot of people when it started, and also Packer didn't endear himself to a lot of people with his approach, despite what the series showed you. Back in that era commercial networks didn't go to regional areas either, so some people saw it as depriving country people from seeing the game (Personally that doesn't worry me. If you want to live with fly blown sheep that's a matter for you, but the point stands - it annoyed people). Plus, Australia were beating India in the establishment test series. The following year the Poms came out and Australia got smashed, which turned a lot of people off.

Also keep in mind it was the first real foray into full time professional team-based sport here. In the 70s, Rugby League and Aussie Rules players were still working full time then training afterwards.